Published on 08/31/10

Direct-marketing local food course Nov. 8 in Macon

By April Reese Sorrow

Interest in local food is increasing. But producers lack a distribution system for moving the food and are uncertain about regulations that affect local-food production. A class in Macon, Ga., Nov. 8 will help them figure it out.

“Direct Marketing of Local Food Products” will be held at the Georgia Farm Bureau Building on Bass Road off of I-75. Classes will last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m.

According to a recent U.S. Department of Agriculture report on local food systems, 1,400 community-supported agriculture organizations were in operation this year. Last year, there were 2,095 farm-to-school programs operating in the country. These programs use local farms as food suppliers for school meal programs. This is 500 percent more than just five years ago.

Topics and panel discussions will include direct marketing of produce and value-added products, including selling directly to retailers, restaurants and school meal programs.

The University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, Center of Innovation for Agribusiness and Georgia Farm Bureau are offering the one-day course, which costs $25 and includes lunch. For more information or to register visit www.areg.caes.uga.edu.

April R. Sorrow is a science writer with the University of Georgia Public Affairs Office.

Authors:

April Reese Sorrow

Experts/Sources:

Kent Wolfe

Sharon P Kane

Produce on sale at the 2010 Athens Farmers Market.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.

Download Image

CAES News

UGA Extension supports resilience in Georgia farm communities after Hurricane Helene 12/19/24 Emily Cabrera

Hurricane Helene wrought sweeping devastation across Georgia’s agricultural sector in late September, leaving an indelible mark on both the land and the people who tend it, bringing focus to vulnerabilities in Georgia’s farming industry and the need for more robust safety nets. In addition to the physical destruction, the hurricane took an emotional toll on Georgia’s farmers. In response, UGA Extension has prioritized mental health support.

From left, CAES Associate Professor Abigail Borron and Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars Mihai Suteu, Daniyar Memedemin, Alina Zaharia, Andreea Ona and Daniel Chiciudean stand in front of an image of the Romanian flag projected onto a barn at UGArden.

CAES News

Fulbright Scholars unite with UGA Extension to envision ag outreach model in Romania 12/18/24 Maria M. Lameiras

Arriving on the Athens campus of the University of Georgia in August 2023, five Romanian scholars experienced the same anticipation, excitement and apprehension as many first-year students. Chosen as Fulbright Romanian-American Foundation Scholars, each serves on the faculty at one of three Romanian universities, specializing in fields from economics and engineering to plant breeding and biotechnology. The five scholars comprised the first cohort of the Romanian Extension Education Development Program, an ambitious three-year pilot effort to facilitate planning and implementation of extension services in Romania.

Georgia Simmons at the office of U.S. Sen. Warnock

CAES News

Georgia 4-H alum, CAES student spends semester serving at the nation's Capitol 12/03/24 Josie Smith, Cooper Hardy

Third-year University of Georgia student and Banks County 4-H alum Georgia Simmons has been in the center of the political action this fall with the Georgia 4-H Washington DC Intern Program. Simmons, an environmental resource science major in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, works in the office of U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock. As an intern on his staff, she interacts directly with policy experts and lawmakers, participating in the legislative process while earning a semester of credit hours.

In Georgia alone, there are nearly 400,000 individuals employed in some segment of hospitality. With the unique mix of leisure travel in coastal Georgia and convention travel in Atlanta, HFIM students have a wealth of opportunities to choose the area that suits them best.

CAES News

UGA redefines Southern hospitality through a thriving degree program 11/27/24 Claire S. Kinnard

There are nearly 400,000 individuals employed in some segment of hospitality in Georgia. With the unique mix of leisure travel in coastal Georgia and convention travel in Atlanta, University of Georgia hospitality and food industry management students have a wealth of opportunities to choose the area that suits them best. This versatile experience — with its focus on quality curriculum, meaningful interaction with local and national business, and experiential learning — has already begun graduating the next generation of hospitality leaders.

CAES News

CAES welcomes 2024 cohort of Rural Scholars 11/20/24 Maria M. Lameiras

The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences welcomed its fourth cohort of students chosen for the CAES Rural Scholars Program this fall just weeks after celebrating the program's first graduation. Georgia Orman, one of four inaugural Rural Scholars in CAES, graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education. The new scholars for 2024, all from Georgia, are Ela Ash of Ocilla, Lauren E. Coley of Cochran, Amelia Housley of Canon, and London O’Steen of Ambrose.

CAES News

UGA Grand Farm wins stage two of 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund competition 11/13/24 Jordan Powers

Startups in the agricultural technology sector face significant barriers on the path to establishment, including access to training and capital. These barriers are heightened for underrepresented entrepreneurs seeking to start new companies. The University of Georgia Grand Farm, part of a historic partnership between the University of Georgia and Fargo, North Dakota-based Grand Farm, aims to change that.